The impact glass does not allow such a large center picture window. The transoms were to reduce the area of the other windows to allow for wider windows such as a picture with side vents.

fiberglass! Marvin! We had 90 inches width by 60 inches high. Three windows milled together....casement..fixed….casement. You can get any dimension of the units. You have to just spend more ..it is your main window. Get fiberglass, not vinyl. The expenditure is one time and an investment for function, looks, etc.

If the client requires and impact rated window, they will have to check with Marvin on what size they can make.

Yes, it is the weight of the impact glass that complicates everything. I guess triple pane is 50% heavier which puts a strain on everything. But i do like the idea of trying another manufacturer for the two windows that show. Most of the windows live behind blinds all day every day.

Now it looks like I can get the most glass area using double hungs. I do not like double hungs because i think they are less good at keeping out burglars and storm water. Also, they do not seem right for a sixties ranch to me. Am I missing anything in that?

Double hungs in 60’s ranch are fairly common. They usually look like what you have since most around here have 1 horizontall grid in each sash.

Todd, what about security? Easy to force ...? And water from tropical storms?

They are called hurricane impact windows for a reason. There are strict guidelines for impact AND water infiltration. You need a dealer who specializes in these to get the correct information. As far as burglary concerns, this glass will break but not come out of the frame. Ask a PGT dealer for the pictures from an attempted burglary when a crowbar was used on several units but the glass stayed in the frame. One of our commercial customers showed us and the sheriff’s office surveillance tape of two men throwing a concrete block at the glass. The concrete block bounced back and hit on of the unlucky participants! Yes, the glass shattered but because it is actually two pieces of glass with a triple vinyl inner layer and a specially designed frame that holds the glass in a deeper pocket, it did not come out of its frame.

When a double hung is closed use the crowbar under the bottom sash and pry up in the middle . It’s much easier this way.

I dont Know how well a double hung would do against a casement in the real world. All the windows are rated for PG or DP .